Australian hopes to cover Germany to Australia on Kayak

January 29, 2013

Mangalore, Jan 29: A 45-year-old Australian Sandy Robson is on an expedition from Germany to Australia in a kayak, and has so far paddled over a distance of 1,000 kilometres on the Western coast of India, covering an average of 40 km each day.

Speaking to mediapersons here on Monday, the Perth-based kayaker said that she was retracing the seven-year long, 50,000 km journey of German kayaker Oscar Speck in 1932.

“I plan to retrace as much of the Speck journey as possible in series of expeditions over a period of five years. I left from Ulm in Germany in May 2011, and have been exploring coastlines along my journey. I touched the Gujarat coast in December, and have been paddling south along the Indian coastline since then,” she said.

Sandy paddles during the day, returning shore each night to rest for the day. She will further continue her expedition along the Western coast of India, and plans to go around the Cape Comorin at the southern tip of India, paddle around the coast of Sri Lanka and continue along the coast of Tamil Nadu and further north along the Indian coastline, before taking a break during monsoons.

Speaking to Coastaldigest.com, she said that the biggest hurdle she faced on her expedition was not sunburn, crocodiles or choppy waters, but the barrier of language and communication. “I really wish I could pick up the languages in India as it is tough to communicate with the people here,” she said.

Since Sandy does not have enough sponsors, she works as a sea kayak guide and instructor in between stages for 6 months in Fiji and Perth to fund her expedition. Quest Adventures in Mumbai is currently supporting her expedition in India, and loaned her a Blackberry phone for expedition tracking, logistical help and other gear.

She records her journey and experiences on an online blog sandy-robson.com. In her blog, she mentions that she paddled over 6000 km of the Australian coastline on a sea-kayaking expedition in 2007.

Sandy says that she isn't aiming for a world-record for her stretch, but if she did make it to Australia, she would be the first woman to have paddled the long distance by sea. “I think its inspiring for others to see a woman pursuing a journey such as this,” she said.

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Lokayukta team arrives at disputed plot; CM likely to get ED summons

News Network

October 1,2024

Mysuru, Oct 1: The Karnataka Lokayukta team on Tuesday arrived at the disputed plot in Mysuru and began investigation into the MUDA case against CM Siddaramaiah and his wife, news agency ANI reported. Snehamayi Krishna, the complainant in the case was also present with the team.

Sources stated that ED sleuths might issue a notice to CM Siddaramaiah at any time and issue summons to him for questioning. The sleuths are also keenly watching the movements of CM Siddaramaiah’s close associates and relatives, including a cabinet minister in connection with the MUDA scam.

Sources further said that there is a possibility of the ED conducting raids across the state on offices and residences of close associates of CM Siddaramaiah. The ED has also gathered information on bank accounts and financial transactions of CM Siddaramaiah and his associates.

The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) on Monday registered an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR), equivalent to an FIR by the police, against CM Siddaramaiah over the alleged irregularities in the allotment of 14 sites to his wife Parvathi B.M. by the Mysore Urban Development Authority. The ED registered the case taking cognisance of the FIR registered against the Chief Minister by the Lokayukta police on September 27.

Meanwhile, the Karnataka Lokayukta probing the MUDA case has also expedited the probe. The sleuths led by Mysuru Lokayukta SP T.J. Udesh have visited the controversial land on the outskirts of Mysuru city. The petitioner, Snehamayi Krishna, also accompanied the team.

The move of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s wife to return 14 sites allotted by the MUDA to her has triggered a debate. BJP MLA from Mysuru T.S. Srivatsa stated on Tuesday that the move of CM’s wife is not acceptable. "The two commissioners who colluded in the MUDA scam are roaming freely even today," he said.

"CM Siddaramaiah first claimed that there was no scam at all. Later, he formed a commission and now there is an FIR against him. After committing the mistake, you offer to return the sale deed. The time is up. He will have to tender his resignation and I am sure he won’t be in the position until Dasara festivities," MLA T.S. Srivatsa stated.

T.J. Abraham, one of the petitioners in the MUDA case said, “I had demanded the MUDA commissioner to take back the allotted sites. He had written back saying the process would be initiated. They were waiting for the investigation report."

"CM Siddaramaiah has not approached the division bench or the Supreme Court to challenge the order against him because there is nothing to be challenged. Returning sites is not a big sacrifice. The Chief Minister has lost it," Abraham stated.

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